Maintaining a healthy and vibrant lawn in Michigan can be a challenging task, especially with the region’s unpredictable weather patterns. One crucial aspect of lawn care that often gets overlooked is aeration. Aeration involves perforating the soil with small holes to allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate the grass roots more effectively. But when is the best time to aerate your lawn in Michigan? In this blog post, we will explore the optimal timing for aerating your lawn in the Great Lakes State.
Spring or Fall?
In Michigan, the best time to aerate your lawn is either in the spring or fall. Spring aeration helps loosen up compacted soil from winter snowfall and allows nutrients to reach the roots as they start growing again. On the other hand, fall aeration prepares your lawn for winter by strengthening roots and promoting new growth in the following spring. Both seasons have their advantages, so it ultimately comes down to personal preference and scheduling.
Soil Moisture
It’s essential to aerate your lawn when the soil is moist but not overly saturated. Aerating dry soil can be challenging and ineffective, while aerating wet soil can cause damage to your grass and complicate the process. Aim for a time when your lawn has received some rain or irrigation but isn’t too soggy.
Consider Grass Type
The type of grass you have on your lawn can also impact when you should aerate. Cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass and fescue benefit most from fall aeration when they are actively growing but before winter dormancy sets in. Warm-season grasses like Bermuda grass thrive with spring aeration as they come out of dormancy.
How Often Should You Aerate?
For most lawns in Michigan, annual aeration is sufficient to keep your turf healthy and thriving. However, if you have heavy clay soil or high foot traffic on your lawn from kids playing, weekly mowing or have a sports field, you may need to aerate twice per year.
Professional Help
If you’re unsure about when or how to aerate your lawn properly, don’t hesitate to seek professional help from a local landscaping company or lawn care service provider in Michigan. They have the expertise and equipment needed to ensure that your lawn receives proper aeration at the right time for optimal results.
Make Yard Work Easy With Help From Keast Lawn & Snow
While many may consider aeration a DIY task, it is much easier and often times more cost-effective to hire a lawn company to provide the service. If you’re located in the greater Lansing area, contact the experts at Keast Lawn & Snow today to get a quote.